By Fay Harvey
ALBANY, N.Y. — University of Albany, one of the four “university centers” of the state’s State University of New York (SUNY) system, recently embarked on a $30 million decarbonization project that will greatly reduce fossil fuel consumption.
The project, which includes shutting down campus boilers during summer months, aligns with the collegiate network’s initiative to reduce the carbon footprints of all in-state facilities and meet goals outlined in the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Since SUNY buildings represent 40% of state-owned buildings, the new initiative will accelerate the CLCPA’s plan of reducing almost all of New York greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Approved for funding in the 2023-24 state budget, the project entails replacing two gas-fired absorption chillers in the university’s 1960s-era power plant with a high-efficiency electric centrifugal chiller and a heat recovery chiller connected to a new geothermal well field in one of the campus’ parking lots. Construction crews have already begun drilling the geothermal wells. Eventually, the university will have up to 135 800-feet deep wells to reduce campus natural gas emissions by 16%.
Engineers on the project include Baltimore-based RMF Engineering and Copenhagen-based Ramboll.
“Universities must lead not only by expanding our scientific understanding of climate change, but also by taking concrete steps to mitigate it. I am proud that UAlbany is committed to both,” said Havidán Rodríguez, University of Albany president, in a statement. “This decarbonization project is a major step in reducing our campus greenhouse gas emissions and embodies our resolve to lead on climate by example.”
Through the environmentally conscious plans, the university aims to achieve total cooling, heating and hot water loads during the summer months. To attain this, more than 25 buildings on the university grounds will see modification to existing hot water systems in addition to the installation of low-temperature hot water piping in athletic facilities. The geothermal heat recovery chiller will make an all-electric renovated Physical Education building possible through efficient heating, cooling and domestic hot water.
“SUNY is committed to creating and implementing climate solutions like thermal energy networks, and with nearly 3,000 buildings and over 111 million square feet of space, we have a vital role in establishing a cleaner, energy-efficient future and achieving Gov. Hochul’s ambitious climate agenda,” Chancellor King said in a statement. “Today’s announcement is a testament to UAlbany’s leadership in clean energy and is a blueprint for campuses nationwide looking to reduce fossil fuel use.”
Geothermal Plans Around Campus
Geothermal walls will also be drilled in the campus’ State Quad parking lot in preparation for the university’s $250 million research-focused Health Innovation & Technology Building. Inside the facility will sit a satellite Energy hub with added heat-recovery chillers set to enact a positive ripple effect across campus. The geothermal well and satellite will have the ability to not only heat and cool 700,000 square feet of nearby buildings but also reduce campus fossil fuel consumption by an additional 16%.
“This is exactly the kind of ambitious project we need to see if the state is serious about leading by example and decarbonizing its largest and most polluting facilities,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, in a statement. Tapping clean energy from underground through thermal energy networks and shuttering fossil-fuel powered chillers and boilers that pollute our air and contribute to climate change—this is what our clean energy future looks like.”
With these plans in effect and connected, the Uptown Campus is projected to see fossil fuel consumption drop by one-third. Additionally, though still awaiting approval, the University of Albany has developed a Clean Energy Master Plan to decarbonize the university’s Downtown Campus as well.